Class blog for Anth 249: Evolution and human disease. We will be responding to class readings and engaging with the wider network of blogs and online content on evolutionary medicine. We might also make up some fun projects along the way.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

First Reader: Evolution vs Social Stigma

Chapter 9 “Menstrual-Suppressing Oral
Contraceptives” presented a large amount of information on MSOCs, but my
overall conclusion and opinion on their usage is still torn.It is difficult for me to comment on
the emotion or physical benefits of avoiding menstruation and its symptoms as I
am not a woman.However, from what
I have witnessed from my girl friends, avoiding the symptoms of menstruation
and PMS might be worth small negative consequences in return.It appears from the chapter, and I
agree, that there don’t seem to be any benefits to avoiding or disrupting
natural menstrual cycles.The
theory that they mimic ancestral gaps in menstruation seemed to be completely
disproven in the chapter.I think
that the physical effects of disrupting the cycle need to be further studied
before they can be considered safe.I think the effects should be studied more before they are offered to
the general public, who is not always accountable for researching the effects
of their medications fully.I also
think it would be a good idea to study the effects on individuals to decide if
the risks are too great (which is subjective, though).Users can track their bodily reactions
to the medications and aspects of their health can be charted (such as blood
and other tests).Then doctors can
evaluate if the risk is deemed appropriate.Overall, if I was a woman and had to choose, I would choose
to not use the medications.I
would choose so not just because there might be risks involved, but because I
don’t think it’s a good idea to mess with natural body rhythms.